Thursday, May 22, 2014

I didn't see this game, but it sounds like Dodgers miscues (two more errors) caused us to giftwrap a victory for Jon Niese and the Mets. And in the post-game wrap, Matt Kemp is the key player being scrutinized (and to his credit, owning up to it in a mature fashion):

Kemp hasn't regained his power, as five home runs will attest. But in this game it was his defense in general, and ability to chase down deep flies in particular, that came under scrutiny.

"We continue to look at it and give Matt the opportunity to keep working and get better," Mattingly said. "He doesn't look the same. The burst, the outrun-the-ball thing. We've talked to Matt and don't hear anything medically that he's not feeling good. We just want to see the same burst. We don't know if it's a matter of him being out a few years. He's trying, been working and we'll continue to go from there."

Four extra-base hits cleared Kemp's head, contributing to all four Mets runs, one of them scoring because Kemp dropped a ball he picked up off the warning track.

"I just need to play better defense," said Kemp. "Burst or anything, I'm not getting as good a jump as I need to. I cost us one run bobbling the ball, and it's nobody's fault but mine. No excuses. I've made a couple bad plays in the outfield. It happens."

We need you back, Matty! With the Giants / Rockies game getting suspended, I believe due to lack of fan interest (they plan to resume the game Sept 1), the Dodgers sit 4.5 games out of first place.